DESIGN for surface orientated (air) diving systems

  • Recommended Practice
  • Revision 3 - June 2026

 

This document provides comprehensive guidance on the inspection of surface-oriented (air) diving systems, emphasising safety, regulatory compliance, and best practices within the offshore diving industry.

Contents

Part 1 – Guidance

  • Introduction

  • List of acronyms 

  • The competent person

  • Responsibilities 

  • Planned maintenance systems (PMS) 

  • Key features of this document 

  • Completing the document 

  • References 

Part 2 – Detail sheets

  • Record of inspections 

  • Index to detail sheets

  • General safety 

  • Dive control 

  • Surface compression chamber 

  • Diver launch and recovery system (LARS) 

  • Diving basket 

  • Wet bell 

  • Wet bell main umbilical 

  • Diver heating system 

  • Divers’ umbilicals 

  • Divers’ personal equipment 

  • Compressors, pumps, etc. 

  • High pressure air and gas storage

Appendix A – Changes made in Parts 1 and 2 of this revision (Rev. 3) of IMCA D023


Revision

  • Rev. 3 - June 2026
    Update of document following resolution of review comments
  • Rev. 2.3 - October 2024
    October 2024, Rev. 2.3 - Items added to Part 2 Sections 11 (5.10) and 12 (4.3)
  • Rev. 2.2 - July 2024
    Lifting terminology updated per IMCA Information Note nr. 1665
  • Rev. 2.1 - January 2024
    Correction to Part 2 Detail Sheets item 1.17 of Section 5 (1.5 times replaced by 1.25 times), item 1.15 of Section 6 (1.5 times replaced by 1.25 times), and item 1.8 of Section 10 (removal of ‘in the last 12 months’)
  • Rev. 2 - August 2022
    Updated to clarify any anomalies and bring the guidance into alignment with current industry good practice
  • Rev. 1 - January 2014
    Updated to incorporate equipment improvements and changed operating practices since first publication
  • Rev. - February 2000
    Initial publication